Published at Friday, July 06th, 2018 - 19:42:21 PM. . By Sabrina Emmons.

Slipcovers are one of the all-time secret weapons of decorating. More than functional, they’re an interior-design opportunity. Garment sewers are many steps ahead of the rest of the world who must rely on expensive interior designers and upholsterers to create these versatile room brighteners. Sewers already know about making a fitting muslin and cutting and constructing a garment-skills so easily applied to slipcovering furniture that you’ll be amazed at the simplicity of it. And if you love to sew, you know the lure of beautiful fabric. Here’s your chance to expand your textile palette with the rich variety of high-quality decorator fabric available from home-furnishing stores and through interior designers.

From a practical standpoint, you may want to use slipcovers to match a room to the season. Or perhaps you’d like to simulate an upholstered look, either temporarily (while you decide on larger issues of your decor) or as a final design. (For some ideas, see Dress up your chair.) In any case, I’d like to show you just how easy it is to breathe fresh air into your home or apartment with the simplest of slipcovering projects: a seat cover for a beloved or interesting side chair. And for those of you who are new to sewing, don’t worry. Making a chair cover is an ultraeasy way to practice basic sewing skills. Combine sumptuous fabrics, exotic closures, outrageous trims, different pleat treatments, or even your favorite embellishments.